Culture

In southern China,
particularly around Macau,
cricket fighting had been a popular pastime. Many famous hotels
around Macau held cricket fights where bets up to thousands of patacas would
be waged on a single fight. Prized crickets became famous and
actual funeral services would be held for them.

In Beijing, the
Association for Cricket Fighting still organizes cricket fighting
events and championships.

Though it went on year round, the height of cricket fighting was
between the summer solstice and autumn equinox.
Banners and flags would be given out to the owners of cricket
champions.

While it is illegal in China to gamble on cricket fights, the
fights themselves are legal and occur in most big cities in China.
Crickets are sold openly in street markets. Chinese Police attempt
to control illegal gambling by arresting the gamblers[2].

Care and
breeding

Crickets had pedigrees and would be carefully bred by
knowledgeable keepers. Keepers kept their crickets in fighting
shape with a carefully controlled diet. Ground worms, fish and
water chestnuts was a popular diet for protein and nutrients. In
some cases, even veterinary care and medicine was
administered to keep a cricket in fighting or breeding shape. Also,
everyday a new female cricket was provided for the champion, during
a time of three months.